The international break is over, which means the EPL will resume this weekend with its eighth round of games. There are no changes to the power rankings as the Manchester clubs are at the top of the list and everyone else is trying to catch up. City leads the way with 19 points and 22 goals in seven games. Manchester United also has 19 points but they’ve scored 21 goals in seven games to date. Both teams are 6-1-0 so far.
Many teams have to deal with injuries coming out of the international break, which could throw a wrench into the plans of more than a few teams as they head into action this weekend. Let’s take a closer look at this week’s power rankings as viewed by the odds makers.
1. Manchester City
Last Week: 1
EPL Title Odds: -150
City has a few injuries to worry about as Sergio Aguero is out for around 3-4 weeks because of fractured ribs suffered in a car accident, while Fabian Delph has a hamstring problem and Benjamin Mendy is officially out for the season with an ACL injury. City, who is atop the table, has a big week coming up as they return to Premier League action to host Stoke City on Saturday, and then they host Napoli in the Champions League on Tuesday; their next four games overall are at home.
2. Manchester United
Last Week: 2
EPL Title Odds: +275
Second-place United (both Manchester teams have 19 points, but City has one more goal in goal difference) has their own injury concerns as Marouane Felliani is out with a knee injury, although Romelu Lukaku has recovered from an ankle knock. Michael Carrick is a doubt due to his calf, and Phil Jones faces a problem with his knee. Paul Pogba is still also out for a while with his hamstring injury. United will be away for four matches in a row, starting with Liverpool on Saturday in the Premier League and then travel to Benfica next Wednesday in the Champions League.
3. Chelsea
Last Week: 3
EPL Title Odds: +900
Chelsea likely won’t have N’Golo Kante for this weekend as he has a hamstring injury, and Alvaro Morata still won’t be back from his hamstring injury. Danny Drinkwater still has yet to play his first match for fourth-place Chelsea since joining from Leicester City as he has an ailing calf. Out of all the injuries that have been suffered over this break, the injury to Kante could be the biggest one of them all. Chelsea week’s consists of a trip to Crystal Palace on Saturday, and then they’re home to Roma on Wednesday in the Champions League.
4. Tottenham
Last Week: 4
EPL Title Odds: +1400
Moussa Dembele has an ankle injury which will keep him out of action for at least this weekend, although there is hope that he can feature somehow in the Champions League next. Third-place Tottenham will host Bournemouth on Saturday in the Premier League, and then head to Real Madrid for a difficult match in the Champions League on Tuesday.
5. Arsenal
Last Week: 5
EPL Title Odds: +2500
Fifth-place Arsenal have injury concerns over Shkodran Mustafi and Laurent Koscielny over their thigh and Achilles, respectively, although Koscielny is more likely to play this weekend. Calum Chambers is still out with a hip injury. Arsenal will play the first of three straight away games on Saturday at Watford in the Premier League, and then they head to Red Star Belgrade in the Europa League next Thursday.
6. Liverpool
Last Week: 6
EPL Title Odds: +3300
Sadio Mane is out for about six weeks with a hamstring injury, while Adam Lallana is getting closer to returning from a thigh injury, but he isn’t ready yet. Dejan Lovren has a back problem that could keep him out of this Saturday’s massive home game with Manchester United in another edition of arguably the biggest rivalry in English soccer. Liverpool, who is seventh in the Premier League, will follow that up with a trip to NK Maribor in the Champions League on Tuesday.
7. Everton
Last Week: 7
EPL Title Odds: +7500
Ross Barkley is still another month away from coming back from his hamstring problem, at least, while James McCarthy still suffers from a knee injury. Phil Jagielka joins them on the sidelines as he has a hamstring injury, although he might be able to return next week. Everton is home this Sunday as they return to Premier League action to host Brighton and Hove Albion, and then they stay home next Thursday to host Lyon in the Europa League. However, the Premier League is likely more important to Everton right now as they’re 16th in the table and while it is still early, you can’t get into a much bigger hole than Everton is in now.
8. Burnley
Last Week: 8
EPL Title Odds: +10000
Nahki Wells is trying to return from a shoulder injury as soon as possible, but it probably won’t be this week. Tom Heaton has a dislocated shoulder that will keep him out for a while, and Jonathan Walters has a knee injury that will keep him out indefinitely. Burnley will be at home this Saturday to host West Ham in the Premier League as they sit in sixth place in the Premier League table.
9. Watford
Last Week: 9
EPL Title Odds: +10000
Isaac Success and Nathaniel Chapobah don’t have return dates for coming back from their knee injuries, while the same goes for Younes Kaboul and his hamstring, and Craig Cathcart’s knee injury. Sebastian Prodl has a hamstring injury that he is close to coming back from. Watford will be at home on Saturday as they host Arsenal, and Watford is in eighth place in the table.
10. Newcastle
Last Week: 10
EPL Title Odds: +10000
Jonjo Shelvey has injuries to his thumb and wrist that could keep him out of action this weekend, while the same goes for Matt Ritchie and a muscle injury, as well as Christian Atsu and his ailing calf. Newcastle, who head into this weekend’s action in ninth place in the Premier League table, will be on the road on Sunday as they travel to Southampton.
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